Herons Nesting in Dog Park

Hundreds of great blue herons have turned a bustling Redmond dog park into their unexpected nesting ground, building nests high in cottonwood trees amid barking dogs and human foot traffic. What began as a wildlife concern in 2012—with temporary fencing erected to protect the birds from droppings and noise—has evolved into a thriving urban spectacle. Visitors are stunned by the sheer number of nests and the raucous cries of chicks, likened to velociraptors. Wildlife officials credit the herons’ success to abundant local resources and a surprising protective effect from human activity, even as the birds displace other species. This quirky coexistence, set to last until July, underscores the heron’s adaptability—and why they’re now Seattle’s official bird. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c900d641f2d37bd7